ON Tuesday, Hexham and Northern Marts held its weekly sale of prime cattle and sheep.

Prime Cattle. A much larger entry of clean cattle this week, with a very mixed show forward, with something for everyone this week. Sale topped at 223.5ppk for a lovely butchers heifer from M/s H Clark & Sons, Paxton Dene, Longhorsley.

Angus heifers topped at 200.5ppk from Mr J Dixon, The Stobbs.

Limousin Heifers: £1295.05, £1240.43, £1212.68 & £1098.24 Paxton Dene, 223.5p, 219.5p, 218.5p & 214.5p Paxton Dene. British Blue Heifers: £1020.08 & 167.5p Moorgair. Charolais Heifers: £1135.11 & 189.5p Rare Dean. Simmental heifers: £1049.68 & 173.5p High Wooley. Angus Heifers: £1166.91 The Stobbs, £1106 & £1085.31 West Shields, 200.5p The Stobbs, £197.5p & 194.5p West Shields.

OTM. An increased entry of cows this week at Hexham with 44 forward which met the same strong trade as last week and eagerly bid for by a full ringside of buyers.

The sale topped twice at 153.5ppk for good well fleshed Limousin x cows from M/s Lewis Forster, West Nubbock, and M/s W&JA Longlands, Rushey Law. Two other cows broke the 150ppk barrier with M/s H Clark & Sons, Paxton Dene selling Limousin x cows to 152.5ppk and Mr A Parker, High Wooley selling Simmental x cows to 150.5ppk. Plainer, leaner cows were very easy to sell with the majority selling between 125-130ppk.

Limousin: £1228 Rusheylaw, £1221.86 West Nubbock, £1125.77 Crowhall, £1052.42 Rusheylaw, £1025.50 Stone Stile, £1012.60 Paxton Dene, £947.05 Great Bavington, £945.76 Town Farm Wall, £942.23 West Shields, £925.04 Rusheylaw, £860.94 West Nubbock, £855.53 Little Swinburne, £847.13 Errington Red House, £800.31 Great Bavington, 153.5p West Nubbock & Rusheylaw, 152.5p Paxton Dene, 146.5p Stone Stile, 139.5p Crowhall, 136.5p Rusheylaw, 130.5p Little Swinburne, 129.5p Great Bavington, 128.5p Great Bavington, Town Farm Wall & High Alderheads, 127.5p Redesmouth, Little Swinburne & West Shields, 126.5p Paxton Dene, 125.5p Errington Red House, 124.5p Rusheylaw, 119.5p Fairnley, 118.5p Rare Dean, 116.5p West Nubbock, 113.5p Town Farm Wall. Angus: £1126.17 The Stobbs, £1075.32 & £993.24 West Shields, £933.60 Kirkley Hall, £910.57 & £871.54 The Stobbs, £841.68 New Houses, 145.5p The Stobbs, 139.5p West Shields, 135.5p Kirkley Hall, 134.5p The Stobbs, 130.5p West Shields, 129.5p The Stobbs, 128.5p New Houses. British Blue: £963.84 High Alderheads, £926.49 Little Swinburne, £893.86 Shitlington Hall, £846.17 The Fawns, £828.58 West Shields, 149.5p The Fawns, 128.5p Little Swinburne, 126.5p West Shields, 125.5p High Alderheads, 119.5p Shitlington Hall, 113.5p Redesmouth. Charolais: £873.05 & 130.5p Rare Dean. Simmental: £1045.98 & £1023.93 High Wooley, 150.5p & 139.5p High Wooley. South Devon: £889.29 & 120.5p The Deans.

Prime Sheep. Prime Lambs. More lambs forward and a very nice trade, selling to £112 from Beaumont House. A top of 257.8p from Grange Houses. Texel x: £112 & £110 Beaumont House, £106 Hedchester Law, £105 & £104 Woodhall, £103.50 Beaumont House, £103 (x2) Grange House, £101.50 Hedchester Law, £100 Grange House, 257.5p Grange House, £255.8p Beaumont House, £253.7p & 250p Woodhall, 248.9p & 246.4p Beaumont House, 245.2p Grange House, 241.7p, 240.9p & 235.7p Hedchester Law, 227.3p Grange Farm. Zwartbles: £94 & 164.9p Newbiggin Hill.

Prime Hoggs. Texel x: £95 Dalton Hill Head, £93 (x2) East Matfen, £92 (x4) Dalton Hill Head, £91 Middle Farm, £90 Middle Farm & East Matfen, £89 Middle Farm, Middle Heads, East Matfen & Humber Hill, £88 East Matfen, £85 Middle Farm & Humber Hill, £84, £83 & £80 (x2) Humber Hill, £79 Dalton Hill Head, £78 Middle Heads, 187.2p East Matfen, 184.4p Humber Hill, 184p Dalton Hill Head, 182.4p & 180p East Matfen, 179.6p & 179.3p Dalton Hill Head, 178p Middle Farm, 171.2p Middle Heads, 160p Humber Hill, 157.6p East Matfen, 155.9p Dalton Hill Head, 150.9p East Matfen, 150.8p Dalton Hill Head (x2). Charollais x: £92 & 173.6p Dalton Hill Head. Leicester: £86 & £80 Hotbank. Vendeen: £75 & 170.5p Dalton Hill Head. Cheviot x: £87 & 107.4p Humber Hill. Blackface: £81, £79 & £65 Hotbank, 145p, 137.3p & 104p Hotbank.

Cast Ewes and Rams. Texel x: £75 Humber Hill. Suffolk x: £64 Middle Heads. Leicester: £66 Hotbank. Cheviot: £62 Dalton Hill Head, £50 Barrasford Green. Cheviot Mule: £70 & £58 Barrasford Green. Mule: £60 High Alderheads, £58 Middle Heads, £54 High Alderheads, £53 Middle Heads.

ON Friday, Hexham & Northern Marts held its Special Annual May Term Sale of 1156 Store Cattle and Overwintered Suckled Calves representing an increased entry of over 300 head on the corresponding sale held in 2018.

A tremendous entry of quality was evident throughout and trade for all classes was markedly sharper on the week with a full ringside of buyers keen for all types and many commenting that the show of cattle was the best seen to date in 2019.

Once again heifers led the trade with Willie Woodman peaking at £1450 for a hefty pair of well-bred Charolais cross ladies from Great Chesters with Messrs Clark, Paxton Dene following closely with a Limousin cross at £1445. With the second of his annual consignments at this important time of year Mr Woodman averaged a whopping £1353 for twenty steers and sixteen heifers whilst Messrs Clark followed just ten pounds behind at £1343 for 4 steers and 5 heifers cementing Hexham as the leading centre in the region for top quality beef bred store cattle.

Cattle in the middle aged bracket sold equally well with a welcome return to the store ring for Messrs Walker Bros, Satley who saw their sought after steers at 17 months peak at £1380 for Charolais crosses and £1310, twice for Limmys whilst females at the same age peaked at £1300 from local consignors Messrs Common, Low Ardley, Hexhamshire. Lewis Forster, West Nubbuck presented a smashing run of Sixty-Three well-bred steers and heifers and peaked at £1250 and £1140 respectively.

A smashing pen of fifteen well-bred LimXBlue and BlueXLim steers at 12 months of age were brought forward by noted Morpeth based breeders Messrs Renton, High HIghlaws who enjoyed a very level trade peaking at £1155 and averaging £1126 throughout selling to discerning ‘high end’ finishers from across the region.

With three-quarters of the catalogue made up of yearling cattle suited to either a summer at grass or further housing towards finishing the auctioneers are delighted to report averages of £1015 for steers and £908 for heifers across the entire sale.

Cattle 23–30 months. Charolais x steers: £1430 (X2) & £1380 Great Chesters, £1250 Satley, £1220, £1215, £1195, £1125 & £1110 Capheaton New Houses. Charolais x heifers: £1450 & £1220 Great Chesters. Limousin x steers: £1430 Paxton Dene, £1390 Blackburn, £1380 Great Chesters, £1340 Blackburn, £1300 Blackburn & Paxton Dene, £1275 Hallington High, £1230 West Deanraw, £1210 & £1190 Luns House, £1185 Bankfoot (x2), £1065 Humber Hill, £1050 Blakelaw. Limousin x heifers: £1445 Paxton Dene, £1380 Great Chesters, £1355 & £1280 Paxton Dene, £1275 Fairley, £1210 Paxton Dene & Barrasford Green, £1180 West Deanraw, £1100 Camphill, £1085, £1075 & £1050 Bankfoot. British Blue x steers: £1380 & £1360 Paxton Dene, £1280 Blackburn, £1200 Hallington High, £1190 & £1100 Aydonshields. British Blue x heifers: £1240 Blakelaw, £1065 Hallington High. Simmental x steers: £1250 & £1100 Stoop Rigg. Simmental x heifers: £1085 & £1035 Stoop Rigg. Angus x steers: £1390 Aydonshields. Angus x heifers: £1190 Fairley, £1180 Yatesfield, £1170 Fairley, £1160 Yatesfield (x2), £1155 Catreen, £1150 Yatesfield, £1140 Fairley (x2), £1040 Hallington High, £1010 Warden Law. Beef Shorthorn heifers: £1065 Yatesfield.

Cattle 17–22 months. Charolais x steers: £1235 Humber Hill, £1220 Satley, £1190 Humber Hill, £1120, £1085, £1055 & £1010 Blakelaw. Charolais x heifers: £1265 Great Chesters,£1110 East Fourstones, £1065, £1050 & £1040 Blakelaw. Limousin x steers: £1400 (x2), £1390 & £1370 Great Chesters, £1310 Satley, £1250 & £1220 Luns House, £1150 West Throp Hill, £1100 West Throp Hill & Barrasford Green, £1090 Yatesfield, £1060 Bothal Park, £1050 Bankfoot, £1005 Yatesfield. Limousin x heifers: £1330 Paxton Dene, £1270 Great Chesters, £1200 & £1160 Dykehead, £1150 Barrasford Green, £1120 West Deanraw, £1100 Dykehead, £1090 & £1080 West Deanraw, £1015 Low Ardley, £985 Low Eshells. British Blue x steers: £1270 Blackburn, £1190 Hallington High, £1060 Camphill. British Blue x heifers: £1140 Hallington High, £1100 Camphill, £1095 Hallington High, £1040 Camphill. Simmental x steers: £1310 Satley, £1245 & £1150 (x2) Stoop Rigg. Simmental x heifers: £1040 Stoop Rigg. Angus x steers: £1290, £1180 & £1170 Fairley, £1160 Catreen, £1080 Stoop Rigg, £1070 Fairley. Angus x heifers: £1205 Yatesfield, £1100 Stoop Rigg, £1080 Fairley & Buteland, £1020 Fairley. Beef Shorthorn steers: £1100 Yatesfield

Cattle 11–16 months. Charolais x steers: £1380 Satley, £1250, £1200 & £1170 West Nubbock, £1135 Newbiggin, £1095 Blakelaw, £1050 Newbiggin, £1035 West Nubbock & East Fourstones, £1000 Newbiggin. Charolais x heifers: £1140, £1130, £1075 & £1070 West Nubbock, £1045 Newbiggin, £965 West Nubbock. Limousin x steers: £1310 (x2) Satley, £1240 & £1235 West Nubbock, £1200 Bothal Park, £1185 Greyside, £1180 West Throp Hill & West Nubbock, £1175 Low Ardley, £1170 Bothal Park, £1165 Greyside, £1160 West Nubbock, £1150 Arrmond Carr & Greyside, £1140 Greyside, £1130 Rookhope, Greyside & Allenshields, £1125 High Highlaws & Greyside, £1110 High Highlaws, Greyside & Stotsfold, £1100 Hole Farm, West Nubbock, East Loanend, Stotsfold & Allenshields (x2), £1095 Causey View, £1090 Bothal Park, Low Eshells, West Nubbock, Low Middleton, East Loanend, Greyside & Stotsfold, £1085 West Nubbock, £1080 West Throp Hill, Low Middleton & Greyside, £1075 West Nubbock & Greyside, £1070 Ricknall Grange & Stotsfold, £1060 West Nubbock & Stotsfold, £1055 Low Acton & Low Eshells, £1050 Sherburn Tower, Low Eshells (x2) & Redburn, £1040 Warksfield Head & Allenshields, £1035 Tarset Hall & Redburn, £1030 Low Eshells, £1025 Tarset Hall, £1015 Low Eshells, £1000 White Hill, Tarset Hall, West Nubbock & Redburn. Limousin x heifers: £1300 Low Ardley, £1140 West Nubbock, £1080 High Shipley, £1050 Warksfield Head, £1045 High Shipley, £1035 West Nubbock, £1025 Low Eshells, £1010 Thornton Tower, £1005 East Loanend, £1000 The Brocks (x2), £990 Greyside, £985 East Flass, £980 Low Ardley, £975 Barrasford Green & West Nubbock, £970 Low Middleton. Blonde x steers: £1165, £1120, £1095 (X2), £1085, £1080, £1050 & £1040 Hareshaw, £1030 High Wooley, £1020 & £990 Hareshaw. British Blue x steers: £1155 High Highlaws, £1140 Errington, £1135, £1130 & £1105 High Highlaws, £1090 Redburn, £1080 & £1035 Warksfield Head, £1020 Armond Carr, £1000 Errington, £990 & £950 Errington. British Blue x heifers: £950 Errington, £945 Warksfield Head (x2). Simmental x steers: £1250 Satley, £1190 Causey View & West Nubbock, £1165 West Nubbock, £1035 High Wooley. Angus x steers: £1150 (x2) & £1100 Warden Law, £1075 Hedley Park, £1070 Ricknall Lane, £1060 Buteland (x2), £1055 Barrasford Green, £1050 Redesmouth & Kirkley House, £1045 Buteland, £1035 Bollihope Shield & Redesmouth, £1025 Barrasford Green & Ricknall Lane, £1020 Buteland, £1010 Warden Law & Elilaw, £990 (x2) & £980 (x2) Buteland, £970 Collierley Farm & Elilaw. Angus x heifers: £1070 Warden Law, £1010, £970, £950 & £940 Buteland. Beef Shorthorn steers: £995 & £945 Hedley Park.

Cattle 10 months and under. Charolais x steers: £1200 West Nubbock, £1095 Wydon, £1085 West Nubbock. Limousin x steers: £1195, £1100 & £1095 Cowburn Rigg, £1015 Batey Shield, £970 Allenshields, £960 Batey Shield. Limousin x heifers – £1015 Thornton Tower

Breeding and store sheep. Hexham and Northern Marts held its Annual Hoggs and Lambs show this week within its weekly breeding sheep sale. Thanks must go to our two judges, Miss A Wagstaff and Mr CR Fawcett for doing a splendid job and also to our sponsors, Mole Valley Farmers.

Championship and First Prize Texel x hoggs went again to M/s D Carr & Son, Highwood. These home bred hoggs went on to sell to £208 (£104/life).

Reserve Championship went to M/s G Carins & Ptns, Broomhall with the First Prize pen of Suffolk x. These went on to sell for £185.

First Prize Mule, also from M/s D Carr & Son sold for £194. Making the same price was a lovely pen of home bred Mules from M/s MW&CM Ridley, Shitlington Hall, Wark. On the whole a very good trade was observed for all hoggs and lambs.

Hoggs with lambs at foot. 10 Texel x Hoggs & Lambs: 1, Highwood; 2, Highwood; 3, Quarry Grange. 10 Mule hoggs & lambs: 1, Highwood; 2, Highwood; 3, Shitlington Hall. 10 Suffolk x hoggs & lambs: 1, Broom Hall; 2, Woodlands; 3, Broom Hall. Overall Champion: M/s D Carr & Son, Highwood, with a Texel x; Reserve Champion

M/s G Carins & Ptns, Broom Hall, with a Suffolk x.

Texel x: £208 Highwood, £205 Whitechapel, £198 Highwood, £195 Whitechapel, £142 Quarry Grange, £128 Old Police House. Suffolk x: £185 Broom Hall, £170 Woodlands, £150 Broomhall, £146 Woodlands. Mule: £194 Highwood & Shitlington Hall, £188 Shitlington Hall, £185 Highwood, £ & Shitlington Hall, £182 Briggle Farm, £180 Quarry Grange, £168 & £150 (x2) Moss Kennels, £145 Old Police House.

A tremendous trade was observed for older ewes and lambs with plenty of potential customers ringside. Highlight of the sale came from the dispersal of Messrs. W Cuthbert & Son, Brinkheugh, selling a terrific pen of Texel 1 crop ewes with twin Texel x lambs realizing £245.

Texel x gimmers sold to a high of £208 from M/s J Herdman & Son, Whitechapel.

Older ewes sold exceptionally well with a pen of udders only from M/s D&I Wallace, Bridgeford selling to £165 for the unit.

Gimmers with lambs at foot. Texel x: £208 Whitechapel, £205 Brinkheugh, £150 Old Police House, £142 Brinkheugh. Suffolk x: £132 Yetlington Lane. Mule: £178 Brinkheugh, £174 Amerside Law.

Ewes with lambs at foot. Texel x: £245 & £175 Brinkheugh, £172 Sherburn Tower

£165 Brinkheugh£162 Grange Farm £160 Brinkheugh & Bridgeford. Suffolk x: £175 White House Eastgate, £164 Sherburn Tower. LLeyn: £164 New Hall. Mule: £200 Frankstown, £176, £175(x2) & £174 Brinkheugh, £172 High Barns, White House Matfen & White House Eastgate, £168 High Barns, £165 Bridgeford £164 Sherburn Tower, £145 Brinkheugh, £144 Amerside Law.

Cast ewes. A mixed show of cast sheep this week with all sorts firmer on the week especially fitter continentals. Topping the sale with Texel ewes was M/s L. Forster & Son, West Nubbock selling for £110. Mule ewes topped at £80 from Mr G Pigg, Chesterwood. Horned sheep sold to £74 with Blackface’s from M/s PF Findlay, Stoop Rigg.

Texel: £90 Agars Hill, £88 & £74 Woodlands. Texel x: £110 West Nubbock, £109 Round Meadows, £107 West Nubbock, £102 Broomhall, £101 Rose Cottage, £98 West Shields, £97 Agars Hill, £90 Woodlands, Haining Head & North Cocklake, £89 Felton Demesne, £80 Felton Demesne & Stewards House, £79 High Knitsley & North Cocklake, £78 Rennys Barn, £76 Felton Demesne (x2), £74 Agars Hill. Suffolk x: £100 Broomhall, £89 Woodlands, £85 Causey Burn, £84 East Flass, £80 Stewards House, £73 Felton Demesne. Leicester: £94 & £92 West Nubbock, £85 Agars Hill. Cheviot: £74 Old Blacksmith Shop. Mule: £80 Chesterwood, £78 Round Meadows, £75 West Nubbock, £74 Broomhall, £73 West Shields, £70 West Nubbock & Felton Demesne, £68 Stobbilee & Causey Burn, £66 Woodlands Place, £65 East Flass. Blackface: £74 Stoop Rigg, £66 Great Chesters, £65 Monkridge Hill, £64 Stoop Rigg, £60 West Nubbock & West Shields, £56 Great Chesters. Swaledale: £61 Glenhill, £60 Round Meadows, £56 (x2) Agars Hill, £55 Linshiels. Crossbred: £93 & £86 Milfield Demesne, £70 West Woodfoot, £66 Milfield Demesne, £65 Causey Burn.

Store Hoggs. An entry of 156 store hoggs this week saw an improved trade especially fitter sorts with the sale topping at £96 for Texel x hoggs from M/s G Carins & Ptns, Broomhall. Texel x: £96 Broomhall, £91 Westwood, £84 West Shields, £80 Low Struthers, £76 Haining Head, £72 West Shields, £70 Haggate, £66 Low Struthers. Suffolk x: £59 Causey Burn. Leicester: £73 Low Struthers. Cheviot x: £60 Gairshield, £53 Milfield Demesne. Blackface: £64 Amerside Law, £63 Milfield Demesne. Swaledale: £56 Linshiels & Amerside Law. Herdwick: £54 Gairshield. Hebridean: £46 Low Struthers. Crossbred: £74 Low Struthers.